NEW ORLEANS For the second year in a row, Ohio State's trip to the BCS national championship game ended in heartbreak and disappointment.

The top-ranked Buckeyes (11-2), who were embarrassed by Florida in the title game in Arizona a year ago, missed their shot at redemption by losing to No. 2 Louisiana State University 38-24 last night in the Louisiana Superdome.

The night started out promising for the Buckeyes as they bolted to a 10-0 lead on Chris Beanie'' Wells' 65-yard touchdown run and a 37-yard field goal by Ryan Pretorius in the first quarter.

But then LSU scored 24 unanswered points in the first half.

Ohio State was trying to win its second national championship in its seven seasons under coach Jim Tressel, and lay claim to the school's eighth national crown. The Buckeyes were playing in the title game for the third time in the past six years, having won the national championship in the 2003 game.

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First Published January 8, 2008, 7:50 p.m.